Unitary ice cube tray and storage bin with pivotal connection



June 8, 1965 I R. J. CARBARY 3,187,517

UNITARY ICE CUBE TRAY AND STORAGE BIN WITH PIVOTAL CONNECTION Filed Aug. 6, l964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

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ffi'charci J Car y QLEZM/A. 0 2111 June 8, 1965 J, CARBARY 3,187,517

UNITARY ICE CUBE TRAY AND STORAGE BIN WITH PIVOTAL CONNECTION Filed Aug. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3 3 55 5| f5l\ 5 53 INVENTOR.

fiz'cham J Carbafy ai A " UNITARY ion CUBE TRAY Richard J. Carbary, La Grange, 111., assignor to General Eiectrie Company, a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 387,922

3 Claims. (Cl. 62-344) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and in particular to a device for the formation and storage of ice.

cubes.

Manufacturers of domestic refrigerators'are finding that their customers are increasingly critical of refrigerators having limited facilities for making and storing ice cubes. It has become the practice to supply three or four ice cube trays with the higher priced models of domestic refrigerators, and some manufacturers supply a tub-like bin into which ice cubes may be placed for storage. In practice, however, this arrangement has not been completely satisfactory because it is necessary to remove the bin to a table or kitchen counter and then to take the tray to the bin, release the ice by manipulating the usual lever release mechanism of the tray, and empty the released cubes into the bin. After ice from two or three trays had been emptied into the bin, it was returned to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ice makingand ice storage facility in which an ice-forming tray and an ice-storage tray are located on mechanism which disposes the respective trays in side-by-side relation extending substantially across the upper portion of a freezer chamber in a domestic refrigerator;

It is another object of the invention to provide an ice cube making and storage facility-inwhich an ice cube tray:

and a storage tray are mounted'to be collectively with- United States Patent drawn from a freezer compartment to a position in which a the ice cube forming tray may be inverted over the storage tray and the ice cubes released for discharge into said storage tray while the respective trays remainon the struc ture on which they were supported in the freezing chamber.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ice cube making and storage facility having an ice storage tray and an ice cube making tray mounted ina normal side-by-side relation in a freezing chamber while providmg means for swinging the ice storage tray out of the I chamber without disturbing the ice cube making tray.

In a presently preferred embodimenhl provide a supporting structure relatively close to the upper wall of a freezer chamber of a domestic refrigerator, said structure including rail members extending in parallel spaced relation from the front to the rear of said chamber and preferably midway of the side walls thereof. A plate having a stub shaft extending vertically from its front central portion is slidably mounted relative to said rail members; the method of mounting permits it to be drawn forwardly relative to said rails to an extent sufficient to bring the stub shaft to a fully exposed positionthat is, where the stub shaft is forward of any of the over-hanging'refrigerator cabinet structure. l t V l o The stub shaft pivotally supports two frameworks which in turn respectively support an ice storage tray and an ice cube making tray. Each tray is a quadrant of acircle of which the stub shaftissubstantially the center point; when the respective trays are in their home position within the freezing chamber, their commonfron't edges extend 3,187,517 Patented June 8, 1965 ice so arranged that the ice cube tray carried thereby may be rotated about a horizontal axis in which it ultimately substantially covers the storage tray.

When inspection indicates that ice has formed in all of the pockets or mold in the ice cube tray, the user draws 'the pivot plate and its thereon carried trays forwardly 'cube tray is thBlllll a position to be inverted over the storage tray and the ice cube tray manipulated to free the ,ice cubes from the individual molds in which they were formed. Each of the trays is preferably of a molded plastic, and with respect to the ice cube tray, it is sufficiently thin-walled in the area comprehending the ice mold portions thereof to facilitate heat transfer from the water content of the molds to the sub-freezing atmosphere of the chamber, and to render the tray easily distortable to free the ice cubes therefrom. a It is within the scope of the invention to provide structure which will automatically accomplish the flexing necessary to efiiect the complete release of ice from the ice making tray.

A feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the respective trays for conjoint outward movement but individual rotary movement, whereby each tray may be swung outwardly-for example, for filling the ice cube. tray with water or for removing a desired number of ice cubes from the storage tray-without disturbing the other tray.

Other features and advantages of the invention will best be understood from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment, read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:.

' FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a domestic electric refrigerator of a type in which the freezer compartment is at the bottom of the cabinetythe freezer compartment door is open;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 with portions of the respective trays broken away to reveal underlying structure and adjacent refrigerator portions shown in section;

as a diameter of the circle from side to side at the front a of the chamber and their immediately facing edges extend as a radius of the circle from the front to near the rear of the chamber.

The ice storage tray framework is at a lower level than the ice cube tray framework, and the latter framework is compartment 3.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional elevation taken through the icemaking tray on lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional elevation taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2; p

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan section of the pivot bearing, taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, showing the inversion of the ice tray over the storage tray preparatory to the release of ice cubes thereinto.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a domestic refrigerator 1 includes an upper fresh food storage compartment 2 (fragmentarily shown) and a lower frozen food storage Each compartment is appropriately thermally insulated, is provided witth a vertical hinge door respectively 4, 5, and with suitable racks such as the rack 6 of the frozen food compartment 3 on which to accommodate packages of foodstuffs for storage. In stead of racks some refrigerators utilize swing-out or pul-out bins for the accommodation of the food to be stored. 'The rack or bin arrangement is not important as respects the present invention.

It will be understood that the refrigerator is equipped with suitable mechanical means, such. as a compressorcondenser-evaporator refrigerator system (not shown), and by conventional evaporator means (not shown) the freshfood compartment is maintained at temperatures suitably about 32 degrees F. and the frozen food compartment is maintained at temperatures suitably below 32 degrees F. V

The upper portion of the frozen food compartment that is to say at'portion approximately four inches deep immediately below thetop wall of the compartmentconstituting the present invention.

' is occuplied by the ice'cube formation and storage facility Referring. now to FIG. 2, a tray supporting structure includes, a beam' 8 resting upon pins 9, iii projecting from therespective side walls 11, 12 of compartment 3, and tubular rails 14, 15 extending transversely of the beam 8 to be removably received by studs 16,17 fixed to and projecting from the rear Wall 18 of the com-' partment 3. The beam 8 is advantageously of channel section, as shown in FIG. 3, whereupon it possesses sufficient stability by merely resting upon the respective pins 9 and 10. By making the studs 16 and '17 relatively short, the supporting structure comprising the beam 8 and the rails 14 and 15 are readily installed within or v removed from the compartment 3.

wardly extending portion" 26, FIG. 3, to limit the extent of withdrawal from the rails by abutting against the beam 8. Any appropriate cushioning means, such provide an unencumbered portion .of thearc'uate wall of end to the bearing block sleeve and extending suitably within open bottom channels fonnedin the tray 5t). Rod 52 extends within the channel 53 which comprises the front-to-rear wall of the tray and the -arcuate wall, as

viewedin FIG. 2, but extends into the latter wall portion for only about one-third of its extent; This is to the tray to constitutea hand hold which may be grasped to invert the tray for ice block release. As previously described withlrespect to frame 41, the rod 52 has a downwardly extendingistop 54 engageable with the tubular guide i l to establish the home position of the tray 5%. When the respective trays 4t and 59 are in home position, their front edges collectively define a diameter of a semicircle, and the immediately facing edges are immediately adjacent a radius of said circle.

The pivot rod '55 about which the traySil is rotatable is welded .to the sleeve 37 of bearing 34, but at a higher level than the rod 52, and extends fully along the front as the rubber sleeve 27, may be arranged to cushion the engagement with the beam 8. The two U-shaped wire elements are secured together by the transverse pivot plate 31 welded thereto; said plate has a downwardlyextending handle portion 32. Symmetrically related to the guide rails, the plate'fil mounts an upstanding pivot pin 33 on which the ice mold tray and the ice storage tray are swingably mounted. The pivot pin rotatably carries an upper and lower bearing 'block 34, 35, each of which may advantageously comprise a nylon core 36 enclosed in a metallic casing 37. The upper portion 33 of the pivot pin is cut away, as shown in FIG. 5, to accommodate the stop screw 39. The bearing blocks provide the main support means for the respective trays it) and 50, the tray 4d being for ice storage and the tray 59 being for ice cube formation. As shown in FIG. 2, each tray comprises a quarter circle whereby each may be swung outwardly of the freezing compartment without striking the compartment walls.

Tray 4i? is removably carried by a rigid wire frame 41. The tray may be of any-suitable molded plastic,

the rod 55, as shown in FIG. 3.

wall of the tray. As best appears in FIG. 3, rod 55 extends within a channel 56 which is substantially semicircular in outline. T-shaped tabs 57 are suitably secured to the 'front wall. of the channel 56 and extend downwardly and through said wall to present portions 58 below The tray 50 is thus swin gable about the rod 55 while being secured against accidental removal. 5

When it is time to harvest the ice in the tray 56, the

tray mounting structure is drawn forwardly by a forward pull on the handle portion 32 of the pivot plate. When the stop members such as the bumper 27 engagethe rail 8, the pivot pin 33 will be well forward of any overhanging cabinet structure. Then the trays 40 and are rotated toward each other. If the stop screw 39 has been properly adjusted, the tray 50 will swing to its release position without substantial departure from the desired 90-degree arc. The stop screw is of value when it is considered that the tray 50 is swinging above the tray 40.

When the two trays are thus positioned, the tray 50 is grasped at a peripheral edge portion and swung about the rod so that the tray will completely overlie the tray 43. The tray 5% can then be manually flexed to accomplish the deposit of its ice yield into the tray 40. If desired,

such as polypropylene, and is molded with a continuous open bottom groove42 which fits over the frame 41, as best shown in FIG. 1. A stop 43 projects downwardly from the frame 41 to establish the home position of the tray 40 by engagement with the tubular guide 15.

The tray 50 is molded to provide any desired arrangement of ice molds 51, the respective molds being arcuate on both their transverse and longitudinal axes, as shown by comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4. Advantageously, the tray 56 is molded to provide approximately sixty individual ice pockets, thus being equivalent to at least three ordinary icecube trays. The tray'is quite flexible, and when it is inverted over the tray 4d, as later described, manually applied flexing pressure is sufiicient to disen gage the ice blocks from the molds for deposit in the traydil. 1 Q

g The tray St) is arranged for rotation about pin 33 and also for rotation about a horizontal axis. Accordingly, thetray cannot be supported on a simple'quadrantal Wire frame having its respective ends welded to the metallic sleeve of the bearing block, as is the situation with respect to the frame 41. Instead, the tray 50 is carried pn a rod 52, anda pivot rod 55, each welded at one the rim of the tray 50 may be formed with an upward extension dtl (FIG. 4), which when the tray is inverted over the tray 45 will engage the rim of the latter tray to provide a flexure point to aid in the distortion of tray 50 at the time of ice release.

It will be obvious, of course, that if it is desired merely to take ice from the tray 49, the tray may be swung forwardly without the necessity of drawing the entire structure to its forward position. Similarly, the tray 50 can'be swung outwardly sufficient to permit the tray to be filled with water from a pitcher or other convenient utensil.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications which fall within the true spirit and scopeof the invention.

I claim: 1 I

1. An ice making and storage device for installation in a freezing chamber having a door, comprising, in combination,

a base framework adapted to be supported'in said chamber, said framework including a rigid structure arranged to extend centrally of said chamber from substantially the front to the rear thereof,

an upstanding pivot shaft,"

means for supporting said pivot shaft'for movement from a home position adjacentthe front end of said rigid structure to a second position forwardly thereof, I

shaft for rotation in a horizontal plane,

a second superstructure framework mounted on said pivot shaft for rotation in a horizontal plane,

said first and second superstructure frameworks being disposed respectively at upper and lower levels and each defining substantially a quadrant of a circle of which the pivot shaft is the center,

an open-topped ice storage receptacle removably carried in said second superstructure framework,

an open-topped ice-cube making receptacle disposed within said first-named superstructure framework,

means for drawing said pivot shaft and thereonmounted first and second superstructure frameworks forwardly of said base framework,

and means for rotatably supporting said ice-cube making receptacle for rotation relative to said first-named superstructure framework inversion over said storage receptacle for discharge of ice cubes thereinto.

2. An ice making and storage device for installation in a freezing chamber having a door, comprising, in combination,

a base framework adapted to be supported in said chamber, said framework having adjacent rail members arranged to extend in parallel relation from the front to the rear of said chamber,

a slide plate slidably mounted on said rail members, said plate having a handle portion whereby said plate may be manually moved in a forward direction on said rail members;

a pivot shaft extending vertically from the central front portion of said plate,

a first superstructure framework mounted on said pivot shaft for rotation in a horizontal plane,

a second superstructure framework mounted on said pivot shaft for rotation in a horizontal plane,

said first and second superstructure frameworks being respectively at upper and lower levels on said pivot shaft and collectively defining a semicircle of which the pivot shaft is the center,

an open-topped ice storage receptacle removably carried in said second superstructure framework,

an open-topped ice-cube making receptacle supported on said first-named superstructure framework,

and means for mounting said last-named receptacle 6 for inversion over said storage receptacle for discharge of ice cubes thereinto. 3. A nice making and storage device for installation in a freezing chamber having an access opening, comprising, in combination,

a T-shaped base framework adapted to be removably supported within said chamber, said framework including a beam extending transversely of said chamber adjacent the opening thereof and mutually spaced rail members extending rearwardly from said beam,

a receptacle supporting structure having members slid ably carried by said rail members for longitudinal movement relative thereto,

a pivot plate fixed to said supporting structure,

a pivot pin fixed to said plate and extending vertically therefrom,

upper and lower bearing members rotatably mounted on said pivot pin,

a horizontally disposed quadrantal framework fixed to said lower bearing member,

an ice storage bin removably carried by said framework,

a horizontally disposed framework fixed to said upper bearing member,

a horizontally disposed pivot rod fixed to said upper bearing member and extending therefrom in angular relation to said last named framework,

and an ice-making receptacle pivotally mounted on said pivot rod and removably carried by the associated framework,

the respective receptacle thereby being arranged for conjoint movement along the rearwardly extending members of said base framework and individual rotary movement relative thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/63 Harle 62-344 X 9/64 Knifiin 62-344- ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM E. WAYNER, Examiner. 

1. AN ICE MAKING AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION IN A FREEZING CHAMBER HAVING A DOOR, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE FRAMEWORK ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED IN SAID CHAMBER, SAID FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A RIGID STRUCTURE ARRANGED TO EXTEND CENTRALLY OF SAID CHAMBER FROM SUBSTANTIALLY THE FRONT TO THE REAR THEREOF, AN UPSTANDING PIVOT SHAFT, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PIVOT SHAFT FOR MOVEMENT FROM A HOME POSITION ADJACENT THE FRONT END OF SAID RIGID STRUCTURE TO A SECOND POSITION FORWARDLY THEROF, A FIRST SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT SHAFT FOR ROTATION IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, A SECOND SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT SHAFT FOR ROTATION IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAMEWORKS BEING DISPOSED RESPECTIVELY AT UPPER AND LOWER LEVELS AND EACH DEFINING SUBSTANTIALLY A QUADRANT OF A CIRCLE OF WHICH THE PIVOT SHAFT IS THE CENTER, AN OPEN-TOPPED ICE STORAGE RECEPTACLE REMOVABLY CARRIED IN SAID SECOND SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK, AN OPEN-TOPPED ICE-CUBE MAKING RECEPTACLE DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST-NAMED SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK, MEANS FOR DRAWING SAID PIVOT SHAFT AND THEREONMOUNTED FIRST AND SECOND SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAMEWORKS FORWARDLY OF SAID BASE FRAMEWORK, AND MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID ICE-CUBE MAKING RECEPTACLE FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST-NAMED SUPERSTRUCTURE FRAMEWORK INVERSION OVER SAID STORAGE RECEPTACLE FOR DISCHARGE OF ICE CUBES THEREINTO. 